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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-11-08-min 3LJu et Xab SEIE CTMEN'S MEETING November 8, 1965 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, November 8, 1965, at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs . Burnell, Cataldo, Sheldon and Mabee were present . Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant , Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Mr. Gray read a letter from Governor Volpe rela- tive to new emergency planning to strengthen national security The Governor requested the Board to supply him with answers to an attached questionnaire on warning systems and also to review material on duties of a local Ration Board. He asked for the names of present local Ration officials or members of an existing municipal body who Board he might appoint to carry out orderly distribution duties in the event of a grave national emergency Mr Gray stated the normal thing is to have rationing under Civil Defense Mr . Cataldo explained there are two different functions involved Mr. Gray said some of the surrounding towns are placing this under Civil Defense . The Chairman asked the Board to give some thought to the subject and Mr Gray to check surrounding towns for the bis of their thinking for putting this under Civil Defense. Mr. Gray stated an Epplication had been received from the Board of Health for permission to conduct a Use of meeting in Estabrook Hall on December 1, 1965 from hall 2 00 P.M. until 4:30 P.M. for a Senior Citizens ' Meeting . The meeting will be open to the public and no charge made Upon motion duly made on d seconded, it wns voted to approve the application, free of charge Mr . Gray informed the Board he had received a letter from the Cemetery Commissioners requesting a transfer of $346 He explained that an automobile Transfer ran into the fence and the damage was paid for by the insurance company but the check went into receipts and did not snow up in the Commissioners ' account Upon motion duly made andseconded , it was voted to recommend to the Appropriation Committee that a transfer of $346 be made from the Reserve Fund to the Cemetery Expenses Account 381 Mr Gray also explained the Commissioners ' request for a transfer of $1,000 to the Cemetery Expenss; Account, necessitated because of the numerous burials that were Transfer made on Saturdays and holidays Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to recommend to the Appropriation Committee that a transfer of $500 be made from the Reserve Fund to the Cemetery Personal Services Account Mr. Gray reported that the Capital Expenditures ' report includes three items under the Board of Selectmen - Selectmen's option money, $3,500, additions and reno- Capital vations to the Town Offices, $200,000 He said he would Expendi- find out what the Police Building cost and then add a tures percentage to cover the increased costs He said they had, under 1965, the center development, but as far as he knew, he felt the Board did not want any figures on this p rticular section Mr Gray reported a meeting he had with Leon Burke relative to the program for guides He said he would have the twelve points typed up and mailed to the Board . Mr . Sheldon suggested that the Board make a decision Guides either next week or the week after. Mr. Gray said that Mr Burke is definitely interested in the position of Director of Guides* Mr. Sheldon said before any guides from Lexington are permitted to go to Concord, the subject should be discussed with Concord He sugLested that Mr Gray find out how the Town of Concord feels on the subject Mr . Gray said he had taken proposals on tax title lots last Friday as follows Tax titles Lot S7 James Street Homeland Realty $325.00 Alfred Iodice 300.00 He explained Mr. Iodice made the original offer, is an abutter and wants the land to use as a pasture Upon motion duly made and seconded, it w s voted to reject all bids Upon motion duly made nd seconded, it was voted to readvertise Lot 3 Valleyfield Street Homeland R alty $ 1,650. George Pettinelli 225 Edward Domings 1,000 William Hooper 210 Peter Sokow 1,800 38p GJ L. r2 Mr . Carroll said there are no betterments and Mr Cataldo pointed out the lots are on an unfinished street Upon motion duly made andseconded , it was voted to sell and convey Lot 3 Valleyfield Street to Peter Sokow, tae highest oidder , for $1,800. Lots 52 and 53 Valleyfield Street Peter Sowkow $2,300 . Scenlon 500 Hooper 350. Edward Domings 1,200. Mr . Burnell sug ested making two seventy-five foot lots . Mr. Cataldo pointed out there are no other seventy- five foot lots on the street, the maximum one hundred feet. Mr. Carroll said there is a drain easement on one of those lots U--'on motion duly made andseconded , it was voted to reject all bids . Upon moticn duly made and seconded, it was voted to readvertise these two lots . Lot 8 Grassland Edward Domings $1,300. Hooper 210. Peter Sowkow 1,800 Mr. Carroll said there is sewer in Grassland Street but no water in front of the lot . He said the gap should be connected up The Chairman asked if there were any betterments, and Mr. Carroll replied not yet . Mr. Cataldo pointed out the lot is on an unfinished stre t Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reject all bids . Upon motion duly made andseconded, it was voted to readvertise this lot . Mr. rarroll sFid he thought it would be wise for the Board to hold off on these lots . Once the street is paved and drained, the lots would be worth more money Mr . Sheldon s,,id that .could apply to both bids the Board ha voted to reject Mr. Gray pointed out the Board has already voted to sell one _ot . Mr Cataldo said with all the betterments , there is no question but the Town would get at least $6,000 Mr . Carroll said the Bard asked him to lop-k into the operation of the new Public Facilities Building He 383 reported he had no figures from the Edison and gas com- panies, for lighting and heating, but he tnought $1500 should be appropriated for supplies in order to maintain the building for the first year He said the Park De- partment could maintain it during the winter until next spring and get some record of experience He said the absolute maximum wculd be half a day He said first of all, someone would have to go in there every day for two or three hours He said as far as the Park Department is concerned , the summertime would be a problem. He said if the Board wants someone in there with the Chamber of Commerce woman, then it will have to pay a person, which becomes quite expensive Mr Sheldon said there is a public building here and it cannot be left without supervision. He said neither could the Board depend on whomever the Chamber of Commerce puts in the , and there shoild be a man there as janitor all the time the building is open, a full-time man He said the Town built the building and it has to be super- vised and maintained. Mr Mabee sugcested a janitor service part-time and then have an on-call system. Mr . Sheldon said he"e is a public building that the public is gong to use and the Board could not expect the lady working for the Chamber of Commerce to handle a rumpus The Chairman said the Town did vote for the building and it is up to the Board to administer it and he agreed with Mr Sheldon, there will be trouble without some kind of control. He said if this involves two men, that is what it involves Mr. Carroll said the most economical solution would be to replace the lady with a man. Mr.Mabee exolained that the woman is not costing the Town any money as she will be paid by the Chamber of Coml,erce Mr Mabee said there has been no experience with this building and he could not see, at the beginning, putting on a full-time custodian Mr Cataldo said when the building is open, it will determine what respect the people have for it, and if the rules a 'e made at the beginning, there would not be any trouble. He said the money can be included in the budget and it will then be available if needed Mr Sheldon recommended including an item in the budget to provide for full-time supervision. Mr. Carroll asked if the Board wanted an item in his personal services budget for a full-time man Mr Mabee said with the understanding the money will not be spent unless it is found to be necessary 384 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, Executive deliberating or voting on matters which, if made public, Session might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest ofthe Town, or the reputation of any person. Following discussion with Mr Carroll relative to one of his employees , it was voted to resume the open meeting Letter was received from Robert E. Bond, 6 Demar Road, inquiring about sewer facilities in his area Sewer Mr Carroll said he has this in his 1967 budget and suggested that the Board so advise Mr . Bond The Chairman read a letter from Mrs John Doughty, 197 Westminster Avenge, asking the Town to remove the leaves from th, stret as her husband is unable to take Leaves care of them It was agreed to advise Mrs Doughty that this is not one of the services provided by the Town The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . George P. Morey requesting deferment of the street betterment assessment of $1250 levied against her property on Blake Road Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, Assessment under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950, deferred to extend the time for payment of $1250 street better- ment assessment levied against an unnumbered lot owned by Mrs . George P. Morey and located on Blake Road, with- out interest, until said land or any part thereof is built upon, sold or until the expiration of three years from the date hereof, whichever event occurs first; pro- vided , however, this extension of time shall terminate immediately if said land or any portion thereof is built upon or sold Form letter was received from the State Department of Snow Public Works with reference to snow removal on Route 2A removal Town Gap - 0.20 miles It was agreed to follow the policy established some years ago whereby the State will plow the entire length of Maple Street , and the Town will remove the snow from all of Massachusetts Avenue. Letter was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Com- pany requesting permission to locate a L " and 6" welded steel gas main in York Street and Woodland Road Mr. Carroll stated Mr Herbert Carlson, York Street, wanted to know if theTown would supply the drain pipe for the street when the gas main is put in He said he would investigate and see whether or not it would be a benefit to the Town In the meantime he understood the gas main was not going this way at all and heard that the request had been withdrawn Gas Main The Chai man sugge ted, and the Board agreed, to defer action for one week Mr Mabee said he tnought York Strret should be accepted Mr Car oll said he had his budget all prepared Mr Mabee explained he did not mean this year, but it should be constructed some year Letter was received from Ralph E. Pedersen, 146 Grove Street, claiming damages in the amount of $13.55 to his car due to a hole in East Street The Chairman said this should be re erred to Town Claim Counsel to determine the Town 's liability. Mr Carroll said it depends on whether there was a pot hole or a drainage trench It was agreed to refer the claim to Town Counsel Letter was received from Arnold L)tern, 11 Woodcliffe Road, inquiring about the sewer and drain easements in connection with the Woodhaven Trunk Sewer 1 The Chairman suggested that the letter be referred to Town Counsel who already has an appraisal on the pro- perty and hold this over for one week. Mr. Carroll retired at 9 50 P.M Letter was received from Samuel H. Cohen, attorney for the New Amsterdam Casualty Company, requesting the New Amster Board to make an offer in settlement of damages for ease- dam Casual ments taken in land in which the company is part owner ty Co. The Board carefully considered the question of claim damages and determined that the construction for which the taking was made will benefit the land , and thet if any damage might result from the taking, the amount of such benefit greatly exceeds any such dan-age , In reach- ing its decision, the Board took into account the fact that no bett rments a-e to be assessed on this land for this improvement Letter was received from Mr Legro, Town Counsel, with an order of taking of slope ea ements on Lowell Street Upon motieh duly made nd seconded, it was voted to adopt an order of taking of slope easements on Lowell Street in the following form COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX, SS. TOWN OF LEXIWTON AT a meeting of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Lexington held on the 8th day of November, 1965, it is ORDERED : Whereas the Selectmen are the board of officers authorized to tae land by eminent domain under Chapter 79 of the General Laws in connection with the laying out, widening, altering or relocating of a public way in Lexington, and WHEREAS, the Selectmen have determined that it is necessary to construct slopes in certain land hereinafter described abut, ting on Lowell Street in Lexington in order to protect the land within the locations of said public way. NOW, THER':r'ORE, we, the undersigned, being a majority of the Board of Selectmen of said Town of Lexington, duly elected and qualified and acting as such, do hereby, under and by virtue of the provisions of Section 32B of Chapter 82 of the General Laws and of the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws, and all acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, and of any and every other power and authority us hereto in any way enabling, take in the name and on behalf of said Town of Lexington the perpetual rights and easements to enter upon, remove, deposit , slope, bank and maintain upon She parcels ofland hereinafter described wh_ tever material, filling or support may be deened necessary for the protection of the street to be reconstructed within the location of Lowell Street , a public way in said Lex- ington, said parcels of land being situated on the westerly and easterly sides of said Lowell Street and being shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Slope Easements Lowell St . Lexington Mass . ", dated August 31, 1965, by John J. Carroll, Town Engineer, to be recorded herewith, to .Jhich plan reference is hereby made for a more particular description of each of said parcels of land . Said rights and easements in the above described parcels of land are taken without interference with or prejudice to the rights of the owners, except so far as is reasonably necessary in the exercise of the rights and easements hereby taken, and them is reserved to the owners and their heirs, successors and assigns, all their rights in and to the use of their land lying within said above described parcels for all lawful purposes not incon- sistent with the use thereof for all of the purposes for which said rights and easements a e hereby taken On each occasion that the Town enters upon the land in which the aforesaid rights and easements are taken and performs any work thereon, it shall be the obligation of the Town to remove 387 all surplus material and to leave the surface of the premises in reasonably as good condition as when the entry was made Any trees upon the land included within the above described parcels of land a e included within the taking The land in which the aforesaid rights and easements are taken is believed to belong to the fol, owing named parties, but if the names of the owners of any of said land or of any interest therein is not stated or is not correctly stated, it is to be uhderstood that such land or interest is owned by an owner or owners unknown to us Unregistered Land Lots as Indicated Owner on Aforesaid Plan William J. McLaughlin and Jeanette A McLaughlin, husband and wife Lot Bi Anna R. Paul, Pasquale A. Alibrandi and Joseph F. Alibrandi Lot J Joseph F. Alibrandi and Lambertha A Alibrandi, husband and wife Lot H Salvatore J. Mcsca and Barbara J Mosca, husband and wife Pt . Lot A Donald H. Quinn and Margaret M Quinn, husband and wife Pt . Lot 13 Harold P. Sinclair and Doris Ann Sinclair, husband and wife Pt . Lot 10 No betterments are to be assessed for this improvement but the Town reserves the right to assess betterments for sidewalks to be constructed on the westerly side of Lowell Street under a separate order n And said Board , havin , considered the question of damages , hereby determines that no damages have been sustained and none are awarded WITNESS our hands at Lexington aforesaid this 8th day of November, 1965 TOWN OF LEXINGTON By /s/ Lincoln P Cole . Jr. ' /s/ Ii H. Mabee /s/ Robert Cataldo /s/ Levi G. Burnell /s/ George C. Sheldon Majority of the Board of Selectmen 388 a, COP•M';ONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss November 8, 1965 Then personally appeared the above-named Lincoln P Cole, Jr , Levi G. Burnell, Robert Cataldo, George C. Sheldon and Irving H Mabee, known to me to be a majority of the duly elected , qualified and acting Selectmen of the Town of Lexington, and severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their free act and deed , before me, /s/ Hazel J. Murray Notary Public My commission expires November 12 , 1971 Letter from Mrs John Lambergs , 668 Marrett Road, requesting some type of warning sign on Marrett Road Traffic just off Route 128 was referred to the State Department of Public Works by the Traffic Study Committee. Letter was received from the Board of Assessors inquir- ing about an agreement between the Board of Selectmen Berman's and Berman's Liquor Mart whereby the entire area of their Liquor land must be devoted to the liquor business . License Excerpts were taken from the Selectmen 's Meeting of March 2, 1959, March 9, 1959 and August 7, 1961 and sub- mitted to the Board The Chairman instructed the Clerk to send a copy of the excerpts to the Board of Assessors The Chairman read a letter from Maurice D. Healy, Director of Veterans ' Services, requesting a transfer of $1,000 Transfer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to recommend to the Appropriation Committee that a trans- fer of $1,000 be made fromthe Reserve Fund to the Veterans ' Services Aid and Expenses Account The Chairman read a letter from Mrs Ann Marchant, 6 Vaille Pvenue , calling the Board 's attention to the fact her copy of Archibald Williard 's "Spirit of '76" would be7most fitting display in the Public Facilities Building, or anywhere else in Town Mrs Merchant is moving to Rhode Island in the spring and would like to sell the painting before she leaves The Chairman se id there are no funds available for this purpose and suggested that it be referred to the Historical Society 389 ' Notice was received from Kevin H. White, Secretary of State, advising thatJohn Buckley, Vine Street , William Iverson, William Melbye, James Street and George Andrews, Cert. of 15 Madewaska Street , Bedford, had applied for an appli- Inc. cation for a certificate of Incorporation under the name of Bay State Trappers Association, Inc. Reports on each individual were received from Chief Corr. The matter was held over for one week, at which time the Board will discuss it with Town Counsel. Notices were received from the Alcoholic Beverages Commission relative to the sale of alcoholic beverages ABC on Veterans ' Day, November 11, and Thanksgiving Day, Nov 11 & November 25 26 "Package Goods" stores may sell anddeliver alco- holic beverages between the hours of one o 'clock P.M. and eleven o 'clock P.M. on Veterans ' Day, November 11, 1965, and until eleven-thirty P.M. on the night before "Package Goods" stores shall not sell or deliver alcoholic beverages during the entire day, Thanksgiving Day, but may sell and deliver such beverages until 11?30 o 'clock P.M. on the bight before . Upon motion duly made andseconded, it was voted to grant a taxidriver license to Bruce P. Johnson, License 21 Belknap Stre =t, Arlington, satisfactory character refer- ence having been received from Chief Corr. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Com- missioners advising that Benedict J. Belcastro has Retirement requested retirement as of January 6, 1966 . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held Minutes on November 1, 1965. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to close the Warrant for the 1966 Annual Town Meeting Warrant on January 10, 1966 . Mr. Cataldo reported that the Public Works Building Committee had, during the past two weeks, interviewed twelve architects , and voted on November 5, 1965 to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that William A. Halsey be retained as the architect for the renovations and addi- tions to the Public Works Building. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to retain William A. Halsey as the architect for the renovations and additions to the Public Works Building, G7 390 CI the terms and final agreement to be prepared by Town Counsel Mr . Cataldo called the Board 's attention to the fact that Mr. Halsey said he "understood" his fee shall not exceed a total sum of $2,000. Mr. Cataldo said it should be definite that the fee shall not exceed $2,000 Mr. Cataldo asked if the Board should discuss the letter in the Lexington Minute-man written by the group of architects with respect tothe Lexington Center plan. He said he personally questioned them on their statement the accomplishment of the project was feasible within the framework of the 1965 article . He said , secondly, he understood their understanding was there would be very little Federal aid. He said he was concerned lest the townspeople get the impression something is going on that is nowhere near this . He said he thought the Chairman should talk to the group, and if they are go- ing to put out releases, they should be in the right manner. He suggested that the Chairman talk with Donald Graham. The Chairman said his approach would be to talk with the Chairman of the overall comAttee and have whoever is responsible meet for a discussion. Mr. Gray was asked to arrange a meeting for the Chairman and Mr . Kolovson. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Ekecutive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if made public , might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following disucssion on the subject of Town Counsel, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 :05 P.M. A true record, Attest : cive, Clerk�, Selector � V